History Literature / VariableStar

* Callout: The Sheffield is most likely a reference to another Heinlein character, Commodore Aaron Sheffield, also known as Lazarus Long.

* AllPlanetsAreEarthLike: Somewhat justified, as we're talking about colonization efforts. Also, somewhat averted as the planet the Sheffield is going to is actually quite different. Its gravity is much lower, and therefor it can only be habitable with a much higher oxygen percentage (thinner atmosphere, more of it has to be O2), and therefor it can only be habitable if it has a much higher humidity (to keep everything from catching on fire), etc.

* EpicRocking: Joel's Master Piece. Fifteen minutes of sustained saxophone. Bari sax, at that.

* HyperspeedEscape: Why Conrad shows up.

* IncrediblyLongNote: Joel's Master Piece is an improvised piece involving circular breathing, thus no phrase ever ends, but segues into the next. Plus, he does this on a baritone saxophone, which requires much more air to be pushed through to play. Marathons might be less exhausting.

* NonIdleRich: The Conrads. They're richer than Croesus, but they put themselves through hellishly difficult educations and work for the money. For all of their medically extended lives. However, see RichIdiotWithNoDayJob.

* RichIdiotWithNoDayJob: If you marry a Conrad and end up not being useful to the family, they'll pension you off.
* SecretlyWealthy: Jinny.

* NamingYourColonyWorld: And its moons. Actually a discussion in-universe. The colony was technically and formally named "Brasil Novo" (New Brazil), but this was rapidly shortened to "Bravo". The moons were originally [[NamesTheSame Phobos and Deimos]], but were changed to those of [[WriterOnBoard famous musicians]].

* CabinFever: when the simulator goes down, people go a little stir crazy; then they start making their own entertainment and are fine.

* ShoutOut: As well as being based on notes by Heinlein, this book features references to several of Heinlein's works. Here are the most notable examples, Wiki/TheOtherWiki has more.

* CosyCatastrophe: Straight and averted. The [[spoiler:complete destruction of the solar system]] leaves the denizens of the Sheffield alive, but they're very much not unaffected by it.

* AlienSky: Anticipated, discussed, never seen.

* AllMonksKnowKungFu: Somewhat justified. He's not quite a monk, but he is Buddhist, and rather than Kung Fu, he practices a Japanese martial art. [[CaptainObvious Because he's Japanese]].

* LowerClassLout: Played with with the two transportees who approach Joel about growing illegal drugs (sort of like space weed). They're lower class, underachieving, on the wrong side of the law, but they're not inveterate criminals.

* BlackBox: How the Relativistic Drive works. It's treated as a BlackBox in the text, and Robinson explicitly calls that in a note after the text.

* NeverMyFault: Discussed after things take a bad turn[[note]]specifically, they no longer have enough Relativists to (reliably) slow the ship back down[[/note]] -- If a kid hits his thumb with a hammer, he'll blame someone in the room. If he alone, the ''hammer'' gets told "see what you made me do". The point of the speech is that everyone left shouldn't start 'pointing fingers', but find something positive to do with what they have.

** A non-Heinlein example, Jinny calls Rennick "Smithers," which is heavily implied to be a reference to ''Series/TheSimpsons.''

* ShoutOut: As well as being based on notes by Heinlein, this book features references to several of Heinlein's works. Here are the most notable examples, TheOtherWiki has more.

* {{Fiction500}}: Conrad, of course. Joel as well, eventually.

** Though thanks to time dilation, even though the ship is slated to take 80+ years to get to Brazil Novo, to the ship's passenger's it would seem like only 20 years had passed. Some of them do decide to have children in transit, however, partly so they'll be old enough to work as farmhands when the colonists land.
* GoldDigger: Conrad implies that Joel is this, just a bit, without condemning him for it. Joel can't tell if that was an insult to him or to Jinny, not least because he was completely unaware of the money.

** And even ''that'' didn't entirely work...

* OneSteveLimit: Stretched to the breaking point with Joel Johnston's roommate, Joe Johnson.

* IncrediblyLongNote: Joel's Master Piece is an improvised piece involving circular breathing, thus no phrase ever ends, but segues into the next.